Hon. Cheryl Davenport questions the Health Minister regarding F class driver's license requirements for volunteer drivers in the HACC program, specifically when transporting fewer than eight fee-paying passengers. The Minister clarifies that an F class license is not required in such cases, based on advice from the Department of Transport.

AnsweredQoN 197Legislative Council
Asked
14 September 2000
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the minister’s answer to question without notice No 38 on 16 August 2000, which reads - Currently, volunteer drivers in the HACC are subject to the requirements of the Road Traffic Act 1974 that require a driver to hold an F class licence while driving an omnibus or using a vehicle to carry passengers as separate fares. (1) Is the minister aware that this advice contradicts an answer provided by the Minister for Transport which states that the requirement for an F class drivers licence under the Road Traffic Act pertains to an omnibus vehicle; an omnibus is defined as a “vehicle equipped to carry more than eight adult passengers and used to carry passengers for separate fares”? (2) Will the minister explain whether volunteer drivers who have less than eight fee-paying passengers in the vehicle are required to hold an F class licence, given that their vehicle is not classified as an omnibus? (3) If yes, on what grounds? Hon PETER FOSS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Formal advice received from the Department of Transport by the Health Department of Western Australia on 12 September 2000 confirms the advice given by the Minister for Transport recently that states - The requirement for an ‘F’ class drivers licence under the Road Traffic Act pertains to an omnibus vehicle; an omnibus is defined as ‘a vehicle equipped to carry more than eight adult passengers and used to carry passengers for separate fares’. (2) The Department of Transport has advised that any driver of a vehicle that is not defined as an omnibus will not be required to hold an F class licence. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Will the minister explain whether volunteer drivers who have less than eight fee-paying passengers in the vehicle are required to hold an F class licence, given that their vehicle is not classified as an omnibus? (3) If yes, on what grounds? Hon PETER FOSS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Formal advice received from the Department of Transport by the Health Department of Western Australia on 12 September 2000 confirms the advice given by the Minister for Transport recently that states - The requirement for an ‘F’ class drivers licence under the Road Traffic Act pertains to an omnibus vehicle; an omnibus is defined as ‘a vehicle equipped to carry more than eight adult passengers and used to carry passengers for separate fares’. (2) The Department of Transport has advised that any driver of a vehicle that is not defined as an omnibus will not be required to hold an F class licence. (3) Not applicable.
(3) If yes, on what grounds? Hon PETER FOSS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Formal advice received from the Department of Transport by the Health Department of Western Australia on 12 September 2000 confirms the advice given by the Minister for Transport recently that states - The requirement for an ‘F’ class drivers licence under the Road Traffic Act pertains to an omnibus vehicle; an omnibus is defined as ‘a vehicle equipped to carry more than eight adult passengers and used to carry passengers for separate fares’. (2) The Department of Transport has advised that any driver of a vehicle that is not defined as an omnibus will not be required to hold an F class licence. (3) Not applicable.
Hon PETER FOSS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Formal advice received from the Department of Transport by the Health Department of Western Australia on 12 September 2000 confirms the advice given by the Minister for Transport recently that states - The requirement for an ‘F’ class drivers licence under the Road Traffic Act pertains to an omnibus vehicle; an omnibus is defined as ‘a vehicle equipped to carry more than eight adult passengers and used to carry passengers for separate fares’. (2) The Department of Transport has advised that any driver of a vehicle that is not defined as an omnibus will not be required to hold an F class licence. (3) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Formal advice received from the Department of Transport by the Health Department of Western Australia on 12 September 2000 confirms the advice given by the Minister for Transport recently that states - The requirement for an ‘F’ class drivers licence under the Road Traffic Act pertains to an omnibus vehicle; an omnibus is defined as ‘a vehicle equipped to carry more than eight adult passengers and used to carry passengers for separate fares’. (2) The Department of Transport has advised that any driver of a vehicle that is not defined as an omnibus will not be required to hold an F class licence. (3) Not applicable.
(1) Formal advice received from the Department of Transport by the Health Department of Western Australia on 12 September 2000 confirms the advice given by the Minister for Transport recently that states - The requirement for an ‘F’ class drivers licence under the Road Traffic Act pertains to an omnibus vehicle; an omnibus is defined as ‘a vehicle equipped to carry more than eight adult passengers and used to carry passengers for separate fares’. (2) The Department of Transport has advised that any driver of a vehicle that is not defined as an omnibus will not be required to hold an F class licence. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more